GREENBURGH SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDERFUNDED BY NYS...HELP CORRECT THE MISTAKERelease Date: March 20, 2015

GREENBURGH SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS ACCEPTED IN EVERY IVY LEAGUE COLLEGE…STUDENT HARSHITA SHET TO GO TO DC TO COMPETE IN SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE COMPETITION…SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTICIPATES IN ACE MENTOR ARCHITECT/ENGINEER PROGRAM..GREENBURGH SCHOOLS UNDERFUNDED BY NYS (YOU CAN HELP)….ELMSFORD PRINCIPAL HONORED

Greenburgh has a number of school districts. Ardsley, Elmsford, Edgemont, Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown, Pocantico, Greenburgh Schools, Valhalla. Many are always cited by national publications as the best or near best in the nation. Last year I reported that Edgemont Schools was named the number one school in the nation by one organization, as an example. The Greenburgh School district is not on national lists YET and I feel they get treated unfairly. I’m convinced that one day Greenburgh schools will receive national recognition for the positive things that they do and how they are improving.

Yesterday morning I attended a breakfast hosted by Dr. Tahira A. DuPree Chase, Interim Superintendent of Schools for the Greenburgh school district. Lots of positive energy and excitement in the room. School administrators, teachers, parents and children are working together to turn this school district around. Lots of innovations, positive initiatives. Dr. Chase reported that students from the Greenburgh schools were accepted as incoming students of EVERY IVY LEAGUE COLLEGE!

GREENBURGH SCHOOL DISTRICT SENDS HARSHITA SHET TO WASHINGTON TO COMPETE IN SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE COMPETITION—STUDENT COMPETITORS FROM GREENBURGH WERE AMAZING
The Greenburgh Central School district is the only school district in Westchester County that participates in the Scripps National Spelling bee competition -- the finals are broadcast on national TV. Last year Harshita Shet beat many other students from around the nation. Hopefully, in 2015 she'll be the national champ! The students who participated (winners AND those who did not win) were amazing ---smart, confident, able to think on their feet. Real inspirations. Greenburgh Central School district is doing a great job preparing our students for success.

The winners of the Greenburgh competition are....

Grades 4-8 Winners The first place winner is Harshita Shet --- Harshita is the returning District champion and is headed to Washington DC for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The second place winner is Katie Eng The third place winner is Shrudhi Kundu Grades 2-3 Winners First Place: Gowtami Ramakrishna, 2nd grade- Mrs. Dellacava Second Place: Luna Israel, 3rd grade- Mrs. Davenport Third Place: Ari Hoffman, 3rd grade- Mrs. Sanz

GREENBURGH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ONLY DISTRICT IN REGION PARTICIPATING IN THE ACE Mentor Program. This is a not-for-profit organization that helps prepare high school students for careers in design and construction through mentoring by industry professionals (engineers and architects).
The program was founded in New York City in 1995 by leading architects, contractors, engineers and owners. It has grown to more than 8,000 students and 2,500 mentors in 200 cities and 40 states. Since its inception, the program has served over 5,000 students in New York and 65,000 students nationwide. Over 900 students have registered for the 2013-2014 program season in New York alone. ACE New York has awarded $1,887,000 in scholarships to 915 program graduates. Greenburgh students are eligible for $10,000 scholarships!

Did you know that Greenburgh schools are UNDERFUNDED by the NYS? WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CORRECT THIS MISTAKE?

For years, the Greenburgh Central School district has received less education aid than it is entitled to due to the inclusion of wealthier properties from an adjacent school district in the calculation of its wealth index. Approximately 50% of our students receive free or reduced price lunch, yet we receive less education aid than many neighboring districts with much higher property values and negligible amounts of students receiving free or subsidized lunch.

This mistake has not only led to underfunding for district schools each year, but it could also have a detrimental impact upon the vision developed by the Board of Education and the community to replace its outdated school buildings with state-of-the-art facilities equipped with modern science labs, art rooms and 21st century learning spaces.

What can you do? Please visit the advocacy page linked below and write to the Governor and our legislators urging them to CORRECT this mistake.